Found in parts of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, it lives mostly in humid forests and hilly areas, making it quite different from the desert-dwelling tortoises many people are familiar with. It is an impressive reptile with a rugged, high-domed shell that ranges from dark brown to nearly black. Its strong, scaly limbs are built for pushing through undergrowth and digging, and its elephant-like feet help it navigate muddy, uneven terrain in rainforests.

What sets the Asian forest tortoise apart from other tortoises is its unique nesting behavior. Most tortoise species simply dig a shallow nest in the ground, lay their eggs, and leave them behind. The Asian forest tortoise, however, is one of the very few tortoises in the world that shows parental care. The female builds a large nest mound out of soil, leaves, and other forest debris, sometimes up to half a meter high. After laying the eggs inside, the female guards the nest for several days or weeks, chasing away intruders and ensuring the eggs remain safe.

Diet also highlights how this tortoise is different. While many tortoises feed strictly on grasses and leaves, the Asian forest tortoise is more of an opportunistic omnivore. It eats a wide range of foods, including leaves, fruits, mushrooms, and even animal matter like carrion if it finds it. This flexibility helps it thrive in the forest environment, where food sources change with the seasons. Its role in the ecosystem is also significant. Feeding on fruits and passing the seeds through its digestive system helps disperse plants across the forest floor, making it an important “gardener of the jungle.”

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Bangladesh

2018

Brunei

2018

Presence Uncertain, Origin Uncertain

India

2018

Indonesia

2018

Malaysia

2018

Myanmar

2018

Singapore

Official estimate

EX

Extinct locally

Thailand

2018